Welcome to Afronerd!
A new and needed web sanctuary for people of color with intellectual and artistic pursuits. In this blog we will be addressing interesting and varied subjects, i.e. current national/world affairs, culture, science, religion, politics, entertainment and literature(including graphic novels a/k/a comic books.....yes comics). We hope you enjoy the exchange of ideas.
Peace & Godspeed.

Mission

Welcome to Afronerd! A new and needed web sanctuary for people of color with intellectual and artistic pursuits. In this blog we will be addressing interesting and varied subjects, i.e. current national/world affairs, culture, science, religion, politics, entertainment and literature(including graphic novels a/k/a comic books.....yes comics). We hope you enjoy the exchange of ideas. Peace & Godspeed

Tuesday, July 26, 2011

Afronerd with the emphasis on "featuring Captain Kirk" remains steadfast for tomorrow's Mid Week in Review broadcast airing at 7pm eastern, courtesy of Afronerdradio.com. Stop by and listen to our musings on the following current event related issues: out of deference to Captain Kirk, we will revisit a few topics that were discussed on Sunday's show (White female rapper, V-nasty's comfortable use of the N-word, Black men live longer/healthier in prison, $16 dollar TX home purchase) to hear The "Capitan" give his viewpoint; President Obama's speech concerning America potentially losing its AAA credit rating over the debt ceiling; reluctance of some to label the Norwegian massacre a Christian right wing extremist act; Dburt's "President Obama as Jackie Robinson" analysis and lastly Bill O'Reilly vs Chris Brown. Call in live with your comments, questions and protestations at-646-915-9620 or via email/IM-afronerdradio@yahoo.com.

Monday, July 25, 2011

Let's just jump into it, shall we? Stop by The Comic Shoppetomorrow at 7pm as Daryll B, Captain Kirk and Dburt analyze the following pop culture phenomena: our analysis of this past Friday's release of Captain America: The First Avenger-did it live up to the hype?; a discussion of metas on television-have you noticed that a number of TV programs (and movies) that are not conventional fantasy shows have become reliant on certain characters possessing a type of talent or "super power" (case in point-USA's lawyer themed show, Suits); San Diego hosted its 41st annual Comic Con International event with 130K plus in attendance; Capcom does it again, a few months after the release of Marvel vs Capcom 3, an Ultimate version is slated for release the fourth quarter of this year; Freddy Kreuger is coming to Mortal Kombat next week; in the wake of the independent comic book initiative, Womanthology, an all-female comics anthology with an all-star lineup of female creators, receiving substantial funding in 24 hours...the question remains-can a similar Black themed anthology be far behind? and lastly, our favorite graphic novel reading suggestions from the previous week. Call the gang live at 646-915-9620 or contact us via email or IM at-afronerdradio@yahoo.com.

Oops and least we forget, check out the immortal words of The Shoppe's Daryll B:

Good Day once again AfroNerd Readers and welcome to another edition of my ramblings. First on the agenda, San Diego Comic Con.... Here's a handy complete overview of the major news stories coming out of the event by Comics Alliance:

http://www.comicsalliance.com/2011/07/25/comic-con-2011-news/

My highlight was the Marvel Media panel.... Plans for no less than 8 TV projects were unveiled including plans for a Mockingbird live action series and a new animated Hulk joint to accompany the live action series. Chi McBride voicing Nick Fury in Ultimate Spider-Man with J.K. Simmons returning to reprise his J. Jonah Jameson role. And Avengers EMH getting a second season with more guest heroes and a particularly MAJOR villain lined up....

All that talking before... All that outrage.... The hyping up of this protest across comics social media.... All this disappointment of what really happened... This is what I put in the comments section:

"And then comic fans wonder why companies don't take their complaints seriously? All of that bitching and vows to be noticed at CCI and THIS is the response.... Yeaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh thanks DC 'angry fans' for showing your 'dedication...."

To those that went, I admire your passion. To the ones that talked big and no-showed.... well I have another word for you....

A happy anniversary for one of my favorite articles: Two Tivos To Paradise over at 411Mania. 250 TV News / DVD info columns for Al Norton and still going strong. For this celebration, he got some of his closest Hollywood friends on Facebook to answer 3 questions with interesting results....

Captain America didn't quite beat Thor on its opening weekend but by far it has had stellar reviews. You know we'll take it apart on the next show, but I will say I gave it 3.75-4 out of 5 stars... and that's mainly because of how big a continuity freak I am. The one major problem outside of that is one it shared with Green Lantern: could we see some battle training AFTER Rogers gained the formula? By not showing that, the film gave the impression that ANYONE that takes the formula would be a world class fighter without work... The three major reasons I say go and see it:

1) Hugo Weaving as the Red Skull (Maybe the best comic movie villain this year...)

2) Chris Evans as Cap (THIS is how I pictured Cap when I would defend him against fellow reader who thought Cap was boring.)

3) The period piece was totally on point. (Where are those fools who said this type of movie wouldn't work for Wonder Woman? DC / Warner Bros. execs better just drive that truck of money up to Joe Johnston's door now and get him to direct WW)

Sometimes I shake my head....but no worries. In 5 weeks everything's erased back to zero....except Batman will still have 3 ex partners..... and Superman will have no parents.... WW will have no official outfit... Sinestro is 2814's Green Lantern.... Cyborg will be a founding JLA member and who the heck is the JSA...? (Yeah, I still a little bitter...)

Flashpoint's core book has been good while the tie in's have mostly sucked and with Fear Itself it is the opposite..... It official, I am Comic Evented out.... I need to end this on a good note... Ah I got it...

Cowboys and Aliens Friday...and I just saw a commercial for Another Earth and that also looks to be interesting. Next Week, I do a status report on the new sci-fi TV seasons up to now and realize that only 1 show of the crop hasn't lived up to my expectations..... No Spoilers here, you'll just have to wait until the next blog..... Until Then AfroNerd Readers, Keep Fantasizing!

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

As always folks, we who practice "afronerd-ism" will always give you a full dish of thought provoking nourishment for your entertainment and intellectual palate. And tonight's Afronerd Radio (d/b/a Afronerd featuring Capt. Kirk) will maintain that time honored tradition! Join Dburt and Captain Kirk tonight at 7pm as they utilize their conservative (and sometimes independent) microscopes to bring analysis to the following topics: more horror-a young Brooklyn Hasidic boy who had been missing since Monday was found dead with a suspect in custody. Dburt recounts another story of a young woman of color who disappeared under similar circumstances minus the extensive manhunt or media attention; boxer extraordinaire, Floyd "Money" Mayweather burns money (literally) in a club in a down economy (with a government debt ceiling that has yet to be negotiated); the questionable actions of a recalcitrant father with a criminal past (video, above) might have led to the death of his 17 year old son; our thoughts on the Atlanta school system cheating scandal; the ghost of Lorena Bobbit looms large with another spousal maiming story accept there's no chance for a microsurgery miracle in this case and lastly as an African-American man heads up a "Whites-Only" scholarship fund.....only in America. Call in live at 646-915-9620 or contribute to the discourse via chat or IM @afronerdradio@yahoo.com. And in the immortal words of Prince Namor of Atlantis-Imperius rex! See you at 7pm!

Monday, July 11, 2011

Keeping it simple and succinct! Join The Comic Shoppe team, tomorrow at 7pm eastern-Capt. Kirk, Daryll B. and Dburt as they discuss the following pop/pulp culture issues: speculation on who might don the Spider tights in the Ultimate universe....perhaps a man of color?; filmmaker, Spike Lee has 2 BIG surprises-Do The Right Thing 2..sort of and helming the American version of Old Boy; addressing last week's topic of our most personal desirable comic book/fantasy collectibles; Marvel's Iron Fist may be the next big thing; predictions for Marvel's Reborn series and lastly our favorite comic book reads from the previous week. Call in live at 646-915-9620 or contact us via email/IM-afronerdradio@yahoo.com. hey and there's always twitter-http://www.twitter.com/comicshoppe.

Oh and least we forget, here is the lasting blog posting wisdom from the Shoppe's own Daryll B.

Hello AfroNerd Readers, due to me getting caught up in the USA - Brazil Women's World Cup Match and the Derek Jeter craziness over the weekend, I really don't have much to get worked up / evil over. However I did find 6 articles that I would encourage you to read... but first:

And word is through the grapevine, Catwoman is going to get a "Green Arrow" style short to accompany the main movie. DC may not have their live action stuff cohesive but in terms of DVD Animation, few on this side of the world can match them....

2) Recently, we went on about apparent editorial censorship in regards to Superman #712. Well Mark Waid recounts one of the most famous instances of such deeds at Comic Book Resources. Ironically, both squashed stories were replaced by a Kurt Busiek story involving a dog....

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=33207

I LOVED this run by Waid on Captain America and am glad that the original Red Skull story is finally going to see print, along with the rest of the uncollected material. (Skrull Invasion done right, and Nightmare Snitches!!!!)

3) I have learned as an amateur blogger on ESPN, Yahoo, and here for the last 3 years this one thing: you never 100% know what stories or topics will blow up your comments section. Well, I kind of knew this topic would blow up the Comics Should Be Good comments....

EVERY comic book fan hates to have a story end without a resolution or have a supposed "important" future plot thread never touched upon. Just go through the 374 comments, I guarantee that someone has a unresolved plot that pissed you off back in the day...

4) Did you catch Torchwood: Miracle Day on Starz Friday Night? If not, and if you are a fan of the overall "Who-verse" I encourage you to seek it out. For those of you not familiar about the series, Spinoff Online got you covered with a primer:

5) Speaking of fun cameos, I wonder if SGU fans caught Eureka tonight and saw who was the Senator? Nice pick up and also Felicia Day is in episode 2 next week! And Smallville Fans who were worrying about a certain photographer, Aaron Ashmore joins the team...so you can get your Jimmy Olsen fix also...

They just had to put these and Alphas opposite Monday Night Raw.... Are TV folks trying to make me burn out my DVR or what???

6) Finally, this wouldn't be a Daryll B. blog without me singing the praises of the guys over at 4th Letter. First, David Brothers has not just 1 but 2 articles about Frank Miller and how he 'owns' Batman:

Yeah, I think that's a lot of thought provoking reading for you fine folks. Next Week, prepare yourselves because I will be ready to give my insight on the past couple weeks of movies and news. Including this hot potato:

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Hey People!....once AGAIN, Happy Belated July 4th and after having giving our listeners a brief reprieve, Afronerd Radio returns for Wednesday's Mid Week in Review show at 7pm eastern. Join Captain Kirk and Dburt as they discuss the following issues: the rape case against former IMF chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn appears to have crumbled due to the credibility issues of the accuser; the Casey Anthony trial has come back with a not guilty verdict; a new documentary (hat tip to Shadow and Act's Sergio Mims for informing us about this) entitled, Diary of A Decade showcases the 90s Black alternative music scene coming out of Atlanta, GA; our thoughts on a recent Smiley and West podcast interview with legendary comedian/provocateur, Paul Mooney and lastly, what appears to be somewhat tangentially connected, NY's Openline radio show, (WRKS-98.7fm) gets a bold caller named "Hassan" who critiques the show for its gross adherence to grievance style politics and victimization-and we applaud his verve. Call in live at 646-915-9620 or contact us via email/IM at afronerdradio@yahoo.com. And speaking of Diary of a Decade, take a gander at this extended trailer for your further edification:

Monday, July 04, 2011

We hope that you're enjoying your Independence Day break but although many of you may have to return to work tomorrow, remember The Comic Shoppe show airs at 7pm-allowing one to "decompress" as we discuss all things pulp, sci-fi and fantasy related. Join Daryll B., Capt. Kirk and Dburt as they use their pop culture stethoscopes to diagnose the following topics: the gang will ponder some of the history that led to the development of some of the classic heroes (i.e. Superman, Captain America, The Joker, etc); Fox appears to betting heavy on their next sci-fi franchise, Terra Nova (trailer, above); more thoughts on DCnu after more information hits the net concerning the upcoming 52 titles, prospective story lines and sketches; a self indulgent discussion concerning attainable (and perhaps dream propositions) comic book or science fiction related must haves-clothing, statutes, books, etc and lastly our favorite comic/graphic novel reads from the previous weeks. Call us live at 646-915-9620 or via email/IM at-afronerdradio.com. Also feel free to tweet us at twitter.com/comicshoppe.

Oh and least we forget, we may have to discuss yet another J.J. Abrams banger, Alcatraz: